Tunnel View is a scenic viewpoint on State Route 41 in Yosemite National Park. Visitors have seen and documented the iconic and expansive views of Yosemite Valley from the overlook since its opening in 1933.[1] Internationally renowned artists to casual tourists have painted, drawn, and photographed the dramatic scenery from here and nearby vantage points since the 19th century.

The large viewpoint area is located directly east of the Wawona Tunnel portal, as one enters Yosemite Valley from points south.[1] The view looks eastward into Yosemite Valley, and includes surrounding features, such as the southwest face of El Capitan on the left, Half Dome on axis, and Bridalveil Fall on the right.

For many arriving by road, this is the stunning first view, upon suddenly exiting the long and dark tunnel, of Yosemite Valley and its setting. A turn out with parking lot accommodates leaving vehicles behind, to take it all in.[1] The trailhead, for the hiking trail up and south to Inspiration Point, is located here.

1.
Yosemite National Park
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Yosemite National Park is a national park spanning portions of Tuolumne, Mariposa and Madera counties in Northern California. The park, which is managed by the National Park Service, on average, about 4 million people visit Yosemite each year, and most spend the majority of their time in the seven square miles of Yosemite Valley. The park set a record in 2016, surpassing 5 million visitors for the first time in its history. Almost 95% of the park is designated wilderness, Yosemite was central to the development of the national park idea. First, Galen Clark and others lobbied to protect Yosemite Valley from development, Yosemite is one of the largest and least fragmented habitat blocks in the Sierra Nevada, and the park supports a diversity of plants and animals. The park has a range from 2,127 to 13,114 feet and contains five major vegetation zones, chaparral/oak woodland, lower montane forest, upper montane forest, subalpine zone. Of Californias 7,000 plant species, about 50% occur in the Sierra Nevada, there is suitable habitat for more than 160 rare plants in the park, with rare local geologic formations and unique soils characterizing the restricted ranges many of these plants occupy. The geology of the Yosemite area is characterized by granitic rocks, about 10 million years ago, the Sierra Nevada was uplifted and then tilted to form its relatively gentle western slopes and the more dramatic eastern slopes. The uplift increased the steepness of stream and river beds, resulting in formation of deep, about one million years ago, snow and ice accumulated, forming glaciers at the higher alpine meadows that moved down the river valleys. Ice thickness in Yosemite Valley may have reached 4,000 feet during the early glacial episode, the downslope movement of the ice masses cut and sculpted the U-shaped valley that attracts so many visitors to its scenic vistas today. The name Yosemite originally referred to the name of a tribe which was driven out of the area by the Mariposa Battalion. Before then the area was called Ahwahnee by indigenous people, as revealed by archeological finds, the Yosemite Valley has been inhabited for nearly 3,000 years, though humans may have first visited the area as long as 8,000 to 10,000 years ago. The indigenous natives called themselves the Ahwahneechee, meaning dwellers in Ahwahnee and they are related to the Northern Paiute and Mono tribes. Many tribes visited the area to trade, including nearby Central Sierra Miwoks, a major trading route went over Mono Pass and through Bloody Canyon to Mono Lake, just to the east of the Yosemite area. Vegetation and game in the region were similar to that present today, acorns were a staple to their diet, as well as seeds and plants, salmon. In 1851 as part of the Mariposa Wars intended to suppress Native American resistance and he was pursuing forces of around 200 Ahwahneechee led by Chief Tenaya. Accounts from this battalion were the first well-documented reports of ethnic Europeans entering Yosemite Valley, attached to Savages unit was Dr. Lafayette Bunnell, the company physician, who later wrote about his awestruck impressions of the valley in The Discovery of the Yosemite. Bunnell is credited with naming Yosemite Valley, based on his interviews with Chief Tenaya, Bunnell wrote that Chief Tenaya was the founder of the Pai-Ute Colony of Ah-wah-nee

2.
Yosemite Valley
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Yosemite Valley is a glacial valley in Yosemite National Park in the western Sierra Nevada mountains of Northern California. The valley is about 8 miles long and up to a deep, surrounded by high granite summits such as Half Dome and El Capitan. The valley is drained by the Merced River and a multitude of streams and waterfalls including Tenaya, Illilouette, Yosemite, Yosemite Falls is the highest waterfall in North America, and is a big attraction especially in the spring when the water flow is at its peak. The valley is renowned for its beauty, and is widely regarded as the centerpiece of Yosemite National Park. The Valley is the attraction in the park for the majority of visitors. On July 2,2011 there was a record 20,851 visitors to the valley, most visitors enter the valley from roads to the west and pass through the famous Tunnel View entrance. Visitor facilities are located in the center of the valley, there are both hiking trail loops that stay within the valley and trailheads that lead to higher elevations, all of which afford glimpses of the parks many scenic wonders. Yosemite Valley is located on the slope of the Sierra Nevada mountains,150 miles due east of San Francisco. It stretches for 7.5 miles in a roughly east-west direction, Yosemite Valley represents only one percent of the park area, but this is where most visitors arrive and stay. More than half a dozen creeks tumble from hanging valleys at the top of cliffs that can rise 3000–4000 feet above the valley floor. These streams combine into the Merced River, which flows out from the end of the valley. The flat floor of Yosemite Valley holds both forest and large meadows, which provide breathtaking views of the surrounding crests and waterfalls. The first view of Yosemite Valley many visitors see is the Tunnel View, so many paintings were made from a viewpoint nearby that the National Park Service named that viewpoint Artist Point. The view from the end of the Valley contains the great granite monolith El Capitan on the left. Just past this spot the Valley suddenly widens with the Cathedral Spires, to this point, the Valley has been curving gently to the left, to the north. Now a grand curve back to the right begins, with Yosemite Falls on the north, followed by the Royal Arches, opposite to the south is Glacier Point,3,200 feet above the Valley floor. At this point the Valley splits into two, one section slanting northeast, with the other curving from south to southeast, between them both, at the eastern end of the valley, is Half Dome, the most famous and most recognizable natural feature in the Sierra Nevada. Above and to the northeast of Half Dome is Clouds Rest, at 9926 feet, snow melting in the Sierra forms creeks and lakes

3.
El Capitan
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El Capitan is a vertical rock formation in Yosemite National Park, located on the north side of Yosemite Valley, near its western end. The granite monolith extends about 3,000 feet from base to summit along its tallest face and is one of the worlds favorite challenges for rock climbers, the formation was named El Capitan by the Mariposa Battalion when they explored the valley in 1851. El Capitan was taken to be a loose Spanish translation of the local Native American name for the cliff and it is unclear if the Native American name referred to a specific tribal chief or simply meant the chief or rock chief. In modern times, the name is often contracted to El Cap, especially among rock climbers. The top of El Capitan can be reached by hiking out of Yosemite Valley on the next to Yosemite Falls. For climbers, the challenge is to climb up the granite face. There are many named climbing routes, all of them arduous, including Iron Hawk and Sea of Dreams, El Capitan is composed almost entirely of granite, a pale, coarse-grained granite emplaced approximately 100 mya. In addition to El Capitan, this granite forms most of the features of the western portions of Yosemite Valley. A separate intrusion of igneous rock, the Taft Granite, forms the uppermost portions of the cliff face, a third igneous rock, diorite, is present as dark-veined intrusions through both kinds of granite, especially prominent in the area known as the North America Wall. Along with most of the rock formations of Yosemite Valley. The El Capitan Granite is relatively free of joints, and as a result the ice did not erode the rock face as much as other, more jointed. These forces contribute to the creation of such as the Texas Flake. Once considered impossible to climb, El Capitan is now the standard for big-wall climbing, El Cap has two main faces, the Southwest and the Southeast. Between the two faces juts a prow, while today there are numerous established routes on both faces, the most popular and historically famous route is The Nose, which follows the south buttress. The climbing team relied heavily on aid climbing, using rope, pitons, the second ascent of The Nose was in 1960 by Royal Robbins, Joe Fitschen, Chuck Pratt and Tom Frost, who took seven days in the first continuous climb of the route without siege tactics. The first solo climb of The Nose was done by Tom Bauman in 1969, the first ascent of The Nose in one day was accomplished in 1975 by John Long, Jim Bridwell and Billy Westbay. Today, The Nose typically takes fit climbers 4–5 days of full climbing, efforts during the 1960s and 1970s explored the other faces of El Capitan, and many of the early routes are still popular today. Among the early classics are Salathé Wall on the southwest face, also climbed in the 1960s are routes such as, Dihedral Wall, West Buttress, and Muir Wall

4.
Half Dome
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Half Dome is a granite dome at the eastern end of Yosemite Valley in Yosemite National Park, California. It is a rock formation in the park, named for its distinct shape. One side is a face while the other three sides are smooth and round, making it appear like a dome cut in half. The granite crest rises more than 4,737 ft above the valley floor, the impression from the valley floor that this is a round dome that has lost its northwest half is an illusion. Although the trend of this ridge, as well as that of Tenaya Canyon, is controlled by master joints,80 percent of the northwest half of the original dome may well still be there. On March 28,2009, a rock slide of 1,500,000 cubic feet occurred from Ahwiyah Point. The slide happened at 5,25 a. m. no one was injured, but hundreds of trees were knocked down, and a portion of the Mirror Lake trail was buried. The slide registered on seismographs as an earthquake reaching 2.5 on the Richter Scale, as late as the 1870s, Half Dome was described as perfectly inaccessible by Josiah Whitney of the California Geological Survey. The summit was finally conquered by George G. Anderson in October 1875, today, Half Dome may now be ascended in several different ways. Thousands of hikers reach the top each year by following an 8.5 mi trail from the valley floor, alternatively, over a dozen rock climbing routes lead from the valley up Half Domes vertical northwest face. The first technical ascent was in 1957 via a route pioneered by Royal Robbins, Mike Sherrick and their five-day epic was the first Grade VI climb in the United States. Their route has now been free soloed several times in a few hours time, other technical routes ascend the south face and the west shoulder. The Half Dome Cable Route hike runs from the floor to the top of the dome in 8.2 mi. The length and difficulty of the used to keep it less crowded than other park trails. The hike can be done from the floor in a single long day. The trail climbs past Vernal and Nevada Falls, then continues into Little Yosemite Valley, the final 400 ft ascent is steeply up the rock between two steel cables used as handholds. The cables are fixed with bolts in the rock and raised onto a series of poles in late May. The cables are taken down from the poles for the winter in early October, the National Park Service recommends against climbing the route when the cables are down and when the surface of the rock is wet and slippery

5.
Mariposa County, California
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Mariposa County is a county in the U. S. state of California. As of the 2010 census, the population was 18,251 and it is located in the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains, north of Fresno, east of Merced, and southeast of Stockton. The countys eastern section is the portion of Yosemite National Park. There are no incorporated cities in Mariposa County, however, there are recognized as census-designated places for statistical purposes. It also has the distinction of having no permanent traffic lights anywhere in the county, Mariposa County was one of the original counties of California, created at the time of statehood in 1850. Thus, Mariposa County is known as the Mother of Counties, Charles Fremont moved the county seat to Mariposa in 1854, resulting in the construction of the Mariposa County Courthouse, whose grounds occupies an entire block. The historic structure is fronted by Bullion Street, Jones Street is to the rear and this handsome, white judicial building erected with whip-sawed wood from nearby forests is the oldest courthouse still in use in California, cases are still tried there to this day. The courthouse is so recognizable that its likeness is on the Mariposa County Seal, also particularly noteworthy is the courthouses clock tower and bell, which chimes every hour, on the hour,24 hours a day,7 days a week. The county took its name from Mariposa Creek, which was so named by Spanish explorers in 1806, each year, the first weekend in May, residents mark the annual arrival of migrating monarch butterflies with a Butterfly Days festival and parade. Mariposa County is located at the end of Californias Mother Lode region. During the California Gold Rush, great quantities of the mineral were found and extracted, first in local stream-beds. One of the most notable beneficiaries of this wealth was the explorer and 1856 Republican presidential candidate, John Charles Frémont, for whom the local hospital. Two small gold mines in Mariposa county, the Mockingbird and the Colorado Quartz, specimens from these occurrences commonly have bright luster and rich color, with well-developed crystals in unusual and attractive arrangements. The best-known example is The Dragon, now on display at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. According to the U. S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 1,463 square miles. Along the banks of the Merced River is found the habitat for the limestone salamander. The 2010 United States Census reported that Mariposa County had a population of 18,251. The racial makeup of Mariposa County was 16,103 White,138 African American,527 Native American,204 Asian,26 Pacific Islander,508 from other races, Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1,676 persons

6.
Scenic viewpoint
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An overlook or scenic overlook is a high place where people can gather to view scenery, and to photograph it. Scenic overlooks are typically created alongside mountain roads, often as a simple turnouts where motorists can pull over onto pavement, gravel, many are larger, having parking areas, while some are off the road completely. Other overlooks are next to waterfalls, especially since mountain roads tend to follow streams, many overlooks are accessible only by trails and boardwalk-like walkways and stairs. This is typical in very ecologically sensitive areas and these overlooks are often wooden deck structures, which minimize the impact on the land by reducing the need to disturb it for construction. Stratum Pier by artist Kendall Buster

7.
California State Route 41
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State Route 41 is a state highway in the U. S. state of California, connecting the Cabrillo Highway in Morro Bay with Fresno and Yosemite National Park via the San Joaquin Valley. Except between US101 in Atascadero and SR46 near Shandon, SR41 is part of the California Freeway and Expressway System, SR41 is known as the E. G. The majority of Route 41 runs as either two-lane rural highway or four-lane divided highway, the southern end of the freeway intersects SR1 in Morro Bay. Between Morro Bay and Fresno, the highway intersects U. S. Route 101 in Atascadero, proceeds through the Coast Range, actor James Dean died in an accident in 1955 at the intersection of SR46 in Cholame. Currently, there is a memorial located there, the interchange is now called the James Dean Memorial Junction. Between SR46 and SR33, SR41 briefly travels through Kern County without any intersections in its entirety, after entering Kings County, it reaches SR33. SR41 then intersects Interstate 5 south of Kettleman City, a large hazardous waste and municipal solid waste disposal facility operated by Waste Management, Inc. is located 5.6 km SSW of Kettleman City on the west side of the highway. The El Adobe de los Robles Rancho built by pioneer Daniel Rhoads can be found north of Lemoore, southeast of Caruthers, SR41 becomes a four-lane divided highway and eventually a freeway approaching the Fresno city limits. The route intersects SR99 near Jensen Avenue, complete access is not available between SR 41/SR99. Likewise, there is no direct connector between the northbound SR41 and the southbound SR99, drivers must exit at Jensen Avenue, head east on Jensen until its junction with SR99 a half-mile east of SR41, and then make the southbound transition onto SR99. SR41 continues north into downtown Fresno, then intersects SR180 at a section of the route that links SR41 to both SR99 to the west, and to SR168 to the east. North of Fresno, the crosses the San Joaquin River. 8.5 miles further north, Route 41 intersects with SR145, Route 41 continues through the towns of Coarsegold and Oakhurst, where it intersects with SR49. Route 41 ends in Yosemite National Park to the north, Tunnel View is a viewpoint located just outside the east end of the Wawona Tunnel in Yosemite National Park. It is located about 1.5 miles from the Yosemite Valley and this is the first view that most people have of Yosemite Valley. There is an END-41 sign just south of the entrance to Yosemite National Park. The state routes within the park are not signed, Tunnel View is along Route 41s alignment, although state maintenance of the route ends at the south entrance of the park. In 1930, the counties of Fresno, Kings, Kern and this highway would pass through Kettleman City on its way to the Cholame Lateral near Cholame or Shandon, and then continue to Morro Bay, where a new harbor was being developed

8.
Bridalveil Fall
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Bridalveil Fall is one of the most prominent waterfalls in the Yosemite Valley in California, seen yearly by millions of visitors to Yosemite National Park. The waterfall is 188 metres in height and flows year round and they also believed that inhaling the mist of Bridalveil Fall would improve ones chances of marriage. The glaciers that carved Yosemite Valley left many hanging valleys that spawned the waterfalls that pour into the valley, all of the waterways that fed these falls carved the hanging valleys into steep cascades with the exception of Bridalveil Fall. Bridalveil Creek still leaps into the valley from the edge of the precipice, while Yosemite Falls seem to also fall into this category, the original course took the Yosemite Creek down a gorge to the west of its current location. The primary source of Bridalveil Falls is Ostrander Lake, some 16 kilometres to the south, in a brisk wind, the falling water is often blown sideways, and when the flow is light, it may not reach the ground directly below. Because of this, the Ahwahneechee Native Americans called this waterfall Pohono, Yosemite Firefall List of waterfalls U. S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System, Bridalveil Fall Story of Bridalveil Fall, Pohono Indian legend

9.
Wawona Tunnel
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The Wawona Tunnel is a highway tunnel in Yosemite National Park. It, and Tunnel View just beyond its east portal, were completed in 1933, Wawona Tunnel was bored through solid granite bedrock, and carries Wawona Road through a granite mountain on the south side of the Merced River. It is located on one of the three roads providing access to Yosemite Valley, the most visited section of the park. Wawona Road becomes California State Route 41 on exiting the park, at 4,233 feet long Wawona Tunnel is the longest highway tunnel in California. A $1.5 million federal highway contract to repair the tunnels ventilation and electrical systems, the Wawona Tunnel features in a famous monochrome photograph by Ansel Adams, From Wawona Tunnel, Winter, Yosemite, about 1935.91 feet. Photo of ventilation fans, The Digital Ark Corporation Wawona tunnel construction details, Library of Congress records Detailed map of tunnel and side tunnels from yosemitenews. info/forum